All About Acne and Blemish-prone Skin  

From blackheads and the occasional blemish to unsightly and painful acne, breakouts are never fun. And sadly, these skin concerns are not confined to puberty as adult acne is an increasingly common complaint.

Acne is a broad term that includes pimples, blackheads, whiteheads, and more severe cystic bumps. While there are a slew of causes behind breakouts, including hormonal changes, genetics, lifestyle factors like diet and stress, and even skincare products, essentially, pimples are the result of a combination of sebum (the natural oil our skin produces) and bacteria.   

So, what is the best way to achieve clearer, healthier skin and banish breakouts for good?

Read on for our guide to caring for acne and blemish-prone skin.  

What is Acne?   

Acne is an inflammatory disorder of the skin that occurs when hair follicles become plugged with oil and dead skin cells. In healthy skin, the sebaceous glands make sebum that empties onto the skin surface through the pore, which is an opening in the follicle. Acne is the result of hair, sebum, and keratinocytes sticking together inside the pore, preventing the keratinocytes from shedding and the sebum from reaching the surface of the skin.  

What Causes Blemishes and Acne?  

The underlying causes of acne are multiple and include both hormonal fluctuations and genetics (in other words, you may be more likely to get acne if your parents had acne), but there are also external triggers such as skin, hair, and makeup products and sunscreen, and even laundry detergents, toothpaste, preservatives, and fragrances. Friction on the skin (think the straps on your bike helmet or face masks) can also play a role. Another factor to consider is lifestyle. Things like a poor diet, stress, and a lack of healthy habits can also exacerbate breakouts.   

How To Care for Acne and Blemish-prone Skin  

When an untimely, ugly pimple pops up out of nowhere, the temptation to pick and squeeze or reach for harsh chemical treatments to dry up and clear your skin are the top two don’ts, according to our experts. Picking at blemishes will not only increase inflammation, leading to a longer-lasting pimple with more chance of scarring and hyperpigmentation, but will also introduce more bacteria into the skin, which could lead to infection.  

Meanwhile, using harsh products that dry the skin can send a signal to the body to produce more oil while harsh scrubs can further exacerbate irritation and redness. While it is important to exfoliate breakout-prone skin to prevent clogged pores and stimulate cell turnover, when dealing with acne, chemical exfoliants like Salicylic Acid are recommended as they encourage the shedding of dead skin cells and cell turnover with less irritation.  

Read more about Salicylic Acid here.  

What Are the Best Treatments for Acne and Blemish Prone Skin?

At Skin Laundry, we take a medical approach to treating acne and blemish-prone skin. Our dermatologist-developed protocols are designed to target the root causes of acne—excess oil, bacteria, clogged pores and inflammation—rather than just masking symptoms. Through advanced treatments like our Signature Laser Facial and chemical peels, we help clear active breakouts, prevent future flare-ups and improve overall skin health for long-lasting results.

When it comes to treatments, our Signature Laser Facial is a safe, non-invasive, and effective treatment for treating active acne and preventing future breakouts. The Signature Laser Facial can reduce pore size and sebum levels, reduce bacteria and inflammation, and accelerate the healing process.    

Read more about our Signature Laser Facial here.   

Our Revitalizer Peel is a detoxifying carbon peel that balances oil and refines pores for clearer skin. It breaks up dead skin cells, tightens enlarged pores and delivers anti-inflammatory benefits. 

Read more about Revitalizer here.